Die cutter drive for an envelope blank forming machine

ABSTRACT

The envelope blank forming machine has a web feeder unit mounted above a die cutting unit. The web feeder unit is arranged to intermittently feed web material into a die cutter in the die cutter unit. One of the die plates in the die cutter unit is movably supported on a base and is reciprocally driven by a die cutter drive. A drive motor is positioned beneath the base and transmits rotation to a drive shaft rotatably mounted on the base in spaced relation to the movable die plate. The drive shaft has an enlarged hub portion connected to one end with a radially spaced bore therein. An arm member extends forwardly from the drive shaft and is connected at one end to the end of the drive shaft by a pin positioned in the radially spaced bore so that upon rotation of the drive shaft the arm member reciprocates on the base portion. A support member extends upwardly from the base between the drive shaft and movable die plate. A lever member is pivotally connected at one end to the support member and at the other end to the forwardly extending arm so that the reciprocation of the arm member upon rotation of the drive shaft pivots the lever member and reciprocates the die plate through a yoke connection to the movable die plate. The lever member has a forwardly extending connector member that is pivotally pinned to the yoke member. The upwardly extending support for the lever serves as a fulcrum of a second class lever and the distance between the fulcrum and the connection to the forwardly extending arm increases the torque imparted to the lever by the arm member. The movable die plate has rollers that are rotatably supported on the base portion to support the die plate.

United States Patent 1 Oggoian 3,782,232 Jam 1, 1974 1 DIE CUTTER DRIVE FOR AN ENVELOPE BLANK FORMING MACHINE [75] Inventor: Walter Oggoian, Libertyville, Ill. [73] Assignee: F. L. Smithe Machine Company,

Inc., Duncansville, Pa.

[22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 227,864

[52] US. Cl 83/236, 83/261, 83/571, 83/627, 83/633, 83/911 [51] Int. Cl B31b 1/16, 826d 5/08 [58] Field of Search 83/633, 634, 632, 83/627, 259, 261, 571,572, 236, 911; 74/40, 45

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,461,760 8/1969 White 83/96 X 2,349,874 5/1944 Littell 83/633 X 3,613,491 10/1971 Kahmann 83/572 X 1,913,119 6/1933 .loachimczyk l 83/911 X Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-James F. Coan Attorney-Stanley J. Price, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT The envelope blank forming machine has a web feeder unit mounted above a die cutting unit. The web feeder unit is arranged to intermittently feed web material into a die cutter in the die cutter unit. One of the die plates in the die cutter unit is movably supported on a base and is reciprocally driven by a die cutter drive. A drive motor is positioned beneath the base and transmits rotation to a drive shaft rotatably mounted on the base in spaced relation to the movable die plate. The drive shaft has an enlarged hub portion connected to one end with a radially spaced bore therein. An arm member extends forwardly from the drive shaft and is connected at one end to the end of the drive shaft by a pin positioned in the radially spaced bore so that upon rotation of the drive shaft the arm member reciprocates on the base portion. A support member extends upwardly from the base between the drive shaft and movable die plate. A lever member is pivotally connected at one end to the support member and at the other end to the forwardly extending arm so that the reciprocation of the arm member upon rotation of the drive shaft pivots the lever member and reciprocates the die plate through a yoke connection to the movable die plate. The lever member has a forwardly extending connector member that is pivotally pinned to the yoke member. The upwardly extending support for the lever serves as a fulcrum of a second class lever and the distance between the fulcrum and the connection to the forwardly extending arm increases 11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures as 52 9o N A A 54 ll DIE CUTTER DRIVE FOR AN ENVELOPE BLANK FORMING MACHINE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Copending applications entitled, Method And Apparatus For Forming Envelope Blanks From A Web and Apparatus For Forming Printed Envelope Blanks From Web Material" filed under even date herewith '.and assigned to the assignee of the present invention disclose other features of the apparatus for forming envelope blanks from a web.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a die cutter drive for an envelope blank forming machine and more particularly to a lever actuated die cutter drive for an envelope blank forming machine.

2. Description of the Prior Art Presently, envelope blanks of generally rectangular configuration such as booklet or pocket type blanks are formed by cutting a plurality of envelope blanks from a stack of paper sheets by a multi-position die. US. Pat. Nos. 3,129,622; 2,718,260 and 3,370,492 Zllustrate ]pparatus for forming blanks from a stack of paper sheets. Substantial force is required with this type of apparatus to move the die through the sheets during the cutting operation and frequently, as illustrated in US Pat. No. 3 29.622, hydraulically actuated devices are employed. The cycle of hydraulically actuated devices is slow and limits the number of blanks that can be formed in a given period of time. In other instances, massive fly wheels as illustrated in US. Pat. No. 2,718,260 are required to provide the necessary cutting force for the die. Connecting and disconnecting the fly wheel for each cut is also time consuming and requires massive structures to safely support the fly wheels. In

the die. Speed of the prime mover is reduced substantially to obtain the force advantage which again reduces the speed at which the blanks are formed. As an alternative, electric motors of substantial size are employed with the inherent disadvantages of large horsepower electric motors. There is a need for a die cutter drive for an envelope blank forming machine that may be employed with prime movers of relatively low horsepower. There is a particular need for the drive mechanism for die cutters employed to form envelope blanks from a plurality of webs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a die cutter drive for an envelope blank forming machine that has a frame member with a base portion. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted on the base portion and a drive means is connected to the drive shaft and operable to rotate'the drive shaft. An arm member is connected to one end of the drive shaft in a manner that rotation of the drive shaft reciprocates the arm member. A cutter die having a fixed portion and a reciprocable portion is mounted on the frame member base portion in spaced relation to the drive shaft. The reciprocable portion of the die cutter has a connecting member extending rearwardly therefrom. A lever member is supported at one end on a support V imparted to the reciprocable portion of the die cutter by the drive shaft.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide a drive for a die cutter of an envelope blank machine which requires a prime mover of reduced horsepower.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lever arrangement for a die cutter drive on an envelope blank forming machine in which a mechanical advantage is obtained in imparting torque from the drive shaft to the reciprocable portion of a die cutter.

These and other objects of this invention will be more completely described and disclosed in the following specification, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the envelope blank forming machine, illustrating the drive for the die cutter.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view partially in section taken along the Line IIII of FIG. 1, illustrating the lever arrangement for reciprocating the die plate.

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation similar to FIG. 1, illustrating a fly wheel connected to the die cutter drive.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view partially in section similar to FIG. 2 taken along the Line IV-IV in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the envelope blank forming machine generally designated by the numeral 10 has front and rear vertical frame members 12 and 14 with a horizontal base or platform 16 mounted thereon.

A web feeder unit generally designated by the numeral 18 is positioned above a die cutter unit generally designated by the numeral 20. Drive apparatus generally designated by the numeral 22 is supported on the base portion 16 and connected to the die cutting unit 20. The drive apparatus 22 is arranged to reciprocate portions of the die cutter unit 20.

The web feeder unit includes a pair of side frames 24 in which a pair of feed cylinders 26 and 28 are rotatably mounted. The feed cylinder 26 is mounted in slots in the side frames 24 and is arranged to be urged against the cylinder 28. One or more webs generally designated by the numeral 30 are arranged to be reeved about the cylinder 26 and between cylinders 26 and 28 as illustrated in FIG. 1. An adjustable intermittent feed cylinder 32 is mounted in the frame members 24 below the feed cylinders 26 and 28. A pressure cylinder 34 is mounted on a pair of levers 36 and is adjustably urged against the intermittent feed cylinder 32 by the springs 38. The web material is fed downwardly from between the feed cylinders 26 and 28 between the intermittent feed cylinder 32 and pressure cylinder 34. Suitable apparatus is provided as is described in my copending application entitled Method and Apparatus for Forming Envelope Blanks From a Web" to drivingly connect the intermittent feed cylinder 32 to the feed cylinder 26.

The drive for the feed cylinder 28 includes a shaft 40 journaled in the feeder unit side frames 24 with a gear 42 non-rotatably mounted thereon. A drive pulley 44 is also mounted on shaft 40 and a drive belt 46 extends around the drive pulley 44 and is arranged to rotate the shaft 40 and the gear 42. A second gar 48 is nonrotatably mounted on the shaft 50 of feed cylinder 26 and is in meshing relation with gear 42 on shaft 40 so that rotation of shaft 40 is transmitted through the meshing gears to the feed cylinder 28. Rotation of shaft 40 is transmitted to the intermittent feed cylinder 32 by a lever arrangement not shown to rotate the cylinder 32 at a non-uniform velocity.

The feeder unit 18 is arranged to unwind 6eb 4aterial 30 from suitable supports and to feed the web material intermittently to the die cutter unit where the web material is subjected to a die cutting operation and blanks ofa preselected shape are cut from the web material. The die cutter unit 20 includes a die support 52 that has a base portion 54 secured to the envelope blank forming machine base 16 by bolts or the like. The die support has upwardly extending support portion or wall 56 with a pair of gussets 58. The die support 52 has a horizontal top portion 60 on which the feeder unit 18 is mounted.

A ftont die plate 62 is secured to the die support upwardly extending wall 56 and the die plate 62 has a suitable opening 64 therein having the configuration of the blank formed by the die cutter 20. The die support wall 56 has an opening therein to receive the front die plate 62 and permit ejection of blanks through the die plate opening 64. A plurality of tubular members 66 extend rearwardly from the front die plate 62 and have horizontal bores therein. A rear die plate 68 has a plurality of posts 70 extending forwardly therefrom into the bores of the tubular members 66 so that the rear die plate 68 is supported for reciprocable movement relative to the front die plate 62. The rear die plate 68 has a pair of rearwardly extending roller support members 72 and 74 secured thereto adjacent the bottom portion of die plate 68. Rollers 76 are mounted in the respective members 72 and 74 and are arranged to ride on roller tracks 78 preferably having a hardened upper surface. The tracks 78 are, in turn, secured to-the upper surface of the envelope blank forming base portion 16. With this arrangement the rear die plate 68 is supported by posts 70 positioned in the bores of tubular member 66 and also supported by the rollers 76 on roller tracks 78.

A plate 80 is secured to the rear surface of the front die plate 62 and has an aperture with the configuration of the blank to be formed. Rear die plate 68 has a plurality of forwardly extending posts 82 on which a stripper plate 84 is mounted. The stripper plate 84 is movable toward and away from the rear die plate 68 and is urged away from die plate 68 by springs 86. A punch 88 extends forwardly from the die plate 68 through an aperture in the stripper plate 84. The punch 88 has the configuration of the envelope blank formed in the web and the configuration of the opening in the plate 80. The web 'material is arranged to move downwardly between the plate 80 and stripper plate 84. As the rear die plate 68 moves forwardly toward the front die plate 62 the stripper plate 84 moves into abutting relation with plate and is urged into abutting relation by springs 86. The stripper plate 84 and plate 80 engage the web material therebetween and stop the web material as the rear die plate 68 continues to move forwardly toward the front die plate 68. The punch 88 connected to rear die plate 68 moves through the aperture in the stripper plate 84 and cuts a blank in the web material engaged between plates 80 and 84 and ejects the web material through the aperture in plate 80 and openings in die plate 62 and wall 56 into a blank receiver generally designated by the numeral 90.

The rear die plate 68 is reciprocably driven in timed relation to the web fed by the drive 22 to cut envelope blanks from the web material intermittently fed to the die cutter unit 20 by the web feeder unit 18. The drive mechanism 22 includes a drive shaft 92 rotatably mounted in a pair of pillow blocks 94 and 96. The pillow blocks 94 and 96 are secured to upwardly extending supports 98 and 100. The supports 98 and 100 are, in turn, secured to the envelope blank forming machine base portion 16. The drive shaft 92 has a drive pulley 102 non-rotatably connected to one and portion and a second drive pulley 104 co-axially mounted on the same end portion of shaft 92. The drive belt 46 extends around the drive pulley 104 so that rotation of drive shaft 92 is transmitted to the feeder unit 18. With this arrangement the web material is fed downwardly into the die cutter unit 20 in timed relation with the reciprocation of the rear die plate 68.

A drive motor 106 is suitably mounted below the envelope blank forming machine base portion 16 and is connected to a suitable speed reducer 108. A drive pulley 110 is non-rotatably connected to the speed reducer output shaft 112 and a drive belt 114 extends around the drive pulleys 110 and 102 to transmit rotation from the output shaft 112 of reducer 108 to the drive shaft 92. A suitable take up roller 116 is mounted on the machine base portion 16 and provides the desired tension for the drive belt 114.

A hub member 118 is mounted on the other end of the drive shaft 92 beyond the pillow block 96 and is arranged to rotate with the drive shaft 92. The hub member 118 has a longitudinal bore 120 therein that is displaced radially from the axis of the drive shaft 92. An adjustable arm member 122 has a pin member 124 rotatably mounted therein adjacent one end. The pin member 124 extends into the bore 120 of hub 118. With this arrangement, rotation of drive shaft 92 provides reciprocal motion to the arm 122 because of the non axial connection to the hub 118. The arm 122 has several sections telescopically connected with adjustment bolts 126 that are arranged to change the effective length of the arm 122 and thus the effective limits of the stroke imparted by the arm 122.

A lever support member 128 is secured to the machine base portion 16 and extends upwardly therefrom. The lever support member 128 has an axial bore 130 therein. A lever member 132 has a vertical bore 134 adjacent one end in which a suitable bearing 136 is positioned. A vertical pin member 138 extends through the bearing 136 into the vertical bore 130 of support member 128. With this arrangement the lever 132 pivots about the pin 138 which, as later discussed, is the fulcrum for the lever 132. The other end 140 of lever 132 is connected to the front portion of arm 122 by a universal type connection 142. As illustrated, the arm 122 has an outward connector 146 with a generally spherical portion 148 positioned in a mating generally spherical socket in the front end of arm member 122. The ball and socket type of connection provides a suitable universal connection between the end lever 132 and arm 122 and compensates for the non-linear recip rocation of arm member 122. The lever 132 has a connector member 150 pivotally connected thereto and extending forwardly therefrom. The connector 150 has a generally U-shaped rear portion with a pin 152 extending through aligned apertures in the connector 150 and the lever 132 to pivotally connect the connector member 150 to the lever 132.

The connector member 150 has a forwardly extending tongue portion 154 with a vertical bore therethrough. The rear die plate 68 has a rearwardly extending yoke 156 with pin apertures therethrough. The tongue portion is positioned between portions of the yoke 156 and pin member 158 connects the lever 132 to the rear die plate 68 through connector member 150 and yoke 156. With this arrangement the reciprocable motion-imparted to arm 122 by rotation of shaft 92 is transmitted through the lever 132 to the rear die plate 68. Thus, for each revolution of the drive shaft 92 the die plate 68 is moved toward the front die plate 62 until the stripper plate 94 engages the web material to the plate 30 and the punch 88 cuts a blank from the web and ejects the blank into the receiver 90. The die plate 68 is then moved rearwardly away from the die plate 62 to permit the downward movement of the web material by the feeder unit 18 to move an adjacent uncut portion of the web material between the plates 80 and 84. The lever 132 serves as a torque increasing second class lever to thereby increase the torque imparted by the motor 106 through drive shaft 92. The lever arrangement reduces the horsepower requirements of the drive motor 106 for imparting the force to the rear die plate 68 and punch 88 so that a substantially smaller sized motor may be employed with the drive mechanism 22.

Now referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is illustrated another embodiment of the drive mechanism that includes a fly wheel for the drive shaft. The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is similar to that illustrated in FlGS. 1 and 2 and similar numerals will be employed to designate similar parts.

The drive shaft 92 has an elongated end portion that extends beyond the drive pulleys 102 and 104. A fly wheel 200 is rotatably-mounted on the end of drive shaft 92 and a suitable electric clutch 202 is arranged to engage the fly wheel 200 to the shaft 92. An electric brake 204 is mounted on the drive shaft 92 and is arranged to stop the rotation of drive shaft 92. It should be understood that any conventional remotely actuated clutch and brake devices may be employed to stop the rotation of shaft 92 and to engage the fly wheel 200 to the drive shaft 92. For rigidity of drive shaft 92 the hub member 118 is rotatably mounted in a pillow block 206 which, in turn, is secured to supports 208 extending upwardly from the machine base 16. The bearing type pillow block 206 rotatably supports the hub 118 and the end of the shaft 92. With the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 the drive motor 106 is energized to rotate the shaft 92 with the clutch 202 engaged and brake 204 decnergized so that drive shaft 92 rotates relative to the fly wheel 200. After the shaft 92 has reached a preselected speed the clutch 202 is energized to engage the fly wheel 200 to shaft 92. The fly wheel thus increases the torque imparted to arm 122 and the rear die plate 68. After the motor 106 is deenergized the electric brake 204 is energized to stop the inertial rotation of shaft 92 imparted by the fly wheel 200.

According to the provisions of the Patent Statutes, the principal, preferred construction and mode of operation of the invention have been explained and described as have what is now considered to represent its best embodiments. It should be expressly understood, however, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments disclosed therein, but may be variously practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine comprising,

a frame member having a base portion,

a drive shaft rotatably mounted on said base portion,

said drive shaft having a first end portion and a second end portion,

drive means connected to said drive shaft and operable to rotate said drive shaft,

an arm member positioned adjacent to said drive shaft first end portion and extending forwardly therefrom,

means connecting said arm member to said drive shaft first end portion so that upon rotation of said drive shaft said arm member reciprocates relative to said base portion,

die means mounted on said frame member in spaced relation to said drive shaft,

said die means including a first die plate positioned on said base portion, said first die plate having a connecting member extending rearwardly therefrom,

a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on said first die plate adjacent the bottom edge of said first die plate, said rollers arranged to support said first die plate on the surface of said frame member base portion as said die plate reciprocates,

a lever member positioned between said first die plate and said drive shaft, said lever member having a first end portion and a second end portion,

a support member extending upwardly from said frame member base portion,

means pivotally connecting said lever member adjacent said first end portion to said support member,

means connecting said lever member adjacent said second end portion to said arm member, and

means connecting said first die plate connecting member to said lever member between said end portions so that said first die plate reciprocates on said base portion upon rotation of said drive shaft.

2. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

a second die plate fixedly mounted on said frame member base portion,

telescopic support means connecting said first die plate to said second die plate, said telescopic support means arranged to support said first die plate from said second die plate as said first die plate moves toward and away from said second die plate.

3. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said arm member includes,

telescopic means to change the length of said arm member and thereby change the limits of the working stroke of said first die plate.

4. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said means connecting said arm member to said lever member includes,

a universal joint connection between said arm member and said lever member.

5. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said means connecting said arm member end portion to said shaft includes,

a hub member mounted on said shaft first end portion for rotation therewith, said hub member having a longitudinal axially displaced bore therein,

said arm member having an aperture therethrough adjacent one end portion, and

a pin member extending through said arm member aperture and into said bore and connecting said arm member to said shaft.

6. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

a web feeder unit positioned adjacent to said die means, said web feeder unit arranged to intermittently feed web material to said die means,

said die means operable upon reciprocation of said first die plate to cut envelope blanks from said web material.

'7. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said drive means includes, an electric motor positioned below said drive shaft,

a first pulley nonrotatably mounted on said drive shaft second end portion,

a second pulley nonrotatably mounted on an output shaft from said motor, and

a flexible belt drivingly connecting said second pulley to said first pulley.

8. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

a fly wheel coaxially mounted on said drive shaft, and

clutch means to connect said fly wheel to said drive shaft for rotation therewith.

9. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

a fly wheel rotatably mounted on said drive shaft adjacent said second end portion,

clutch means to connect said fly wheel to said drive shaft for rotation therewith, and

brake means mounted on said drive shaft between said drive shaft first and second end portions, said brake means operable to stop rotation of said drive shaft and said fly wheel.

10. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine comprising,

a frame member having a base portion,

a drive shaft rotatably mounted on said base portion,

said drive shaft having a first end portion and a second end portion,

drive means connected to said drive shaft and operable to rotate said drive shaft,

an arm member positioned adjacent to said drive shaft first end portion and extending forwardly therefrom,

means connecting said arm member to said drive shaft first end portion so that upon rotation of said drive shaft said arm member reciprocates relative to said base portion,

die means mounted on said frame member in spaced relation to said drive shaft,

said die means including a first die plate positioned on said base portion, said first die plate having a connecting member extending rearwardly therefrom,

means movably supporting said first die plate on said frame member base portion,

a lever member positioned between said first die plate and said drive shaft, said lever member having a first end portion and a second end portion,

a support member extending upwardly from said frame member base portion,

means pivotally connecting said lever member adjacent said first end portion to said support member,

means connecting said lever member adjacent said second end portion to said arm member, and

means connecting said first die plate connecting member to said lever member between said end portions so that said first die plate reciprocates on said base portion upon rotation of said drive shaft. 11. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 10 which includes,

a fly wheel coaxially mounted on said drive shaft, and clutch means to connect said fly wheel to said drive shaft for rotation therewith. 

1. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine comprising, a frame member having a base portion, a drive shaft rotatably mounted on said base portion, said drive shaft having a first end portion and a second end portion, drive means connected to said drive shaft and operable to rotate said drive shaft, an arm member positioned adjacent to said drive shaft first end portion and extending forwardly therefrom, means connecting said arm member to said drive shaft first end portion so that upon rotation of said drive shaft said arm member reciprocates relative to said base portion, die means mounted on said frame member in spaced relation to said drive shaft, said die means including a first die plate positioned on said base portion, said first die plate having a connecting member extending rearwardly therefrom, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on said first die plate adjacent the bottom edge of said first die plate, said rollers arranged to support said first die plate on the surface of said frame member base portion as said die plate reciprocates, a lever member positioned between said first die plate and said drive shaft, said lever member having a first end portion and a second end portion, a support member extending upwardly from said frame member base portion, means pivotally connecting said lever member adjacent said first end portion to said support member, means connecting said lever member adjacent said second end portion to said arm member, and means connecting said first die plate connecting member to said lever member between said end portions so that said first die plate reciprocates on said base portion upon rotation of said drive shaft.
 2. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 which includes, a second die plate fixedly mounted on said frame member base portion, telescopic support means connecting said first die plate to said second die plate, said telescopic support means arranged to support said first die plate from said second die plate as said first die plate moves toward and away from said second die plate.
 3. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said arm member includes, telescopic means to change the length of said arm member and thereby change the limits of the working stroke of said first die plate.
 4. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said means connecting said arm member to said lever member includes, a universal joint connection between said arm member and said lever member.
 5. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said means connecting said arm member end portion to said shaft includes, a hub member mounted on said shaft first end portion for rotation therewith, said hub member having a longitudinal axially displaced bore therein, said arm member having an aperture therethrough adjacent one end portion, and a pin member extending through said arm member aperture and into said bore and connecting said arm member to said shaft.
 6. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 which includes, a web feeder unit positioned adjacent to said die means, said web feeder unit arranged to intermittently feed web material to said die means, said die means operable upon reciprocation of said first die plate to cut envelope blanks from said web material.
 7. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said drive means includes, an electric motor positioned below said drive shaft, a first pulley nonrotatably mounted on said drive shaft second end portion, a second pulley nonrotatably mounted on an output shaft from said motor, and a flexible belt drivingly connecting said second pulley to said first pulley.
 8. A die cutter drive for A blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 which includes, a fly wheel coaxially mounted on said drive shaft, and clutch means to connect said fly wheel to said drive shaft for rotation therewith.
 9. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 1 which includes, a fly wheel rotatably mounted on said drive shaft adjacent said second end portion, clutch means to connect said fly wheel to said drive shaft for rotation therewith, and brake means mounted on said drive shaft between said drive shaft first and second end portions, said brake means operable to stop rotation of said drive shaft and said fly wheel.
 10. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine comprising, a frame member having a base portion, a drive shaft rotatably mounted on said base portion, said drive shaft having a first end portion and a second end portion, drive means connected to said drive shaft and operable to rotate said drive shaft, an arm member positioned adjacent to said drive shaft first end portion and extending forwardly therefrom, means connecting said arm member to said drive shaft first end portion so that upon rotation of said drive shaft said arm member reciprocates relative to said base portion, die means mounted on said frame member in spaced relation to said drive shaft, said die means including a first die plate positioned on said base portion, said first die plate having a connecting member extending rearwardly therefrom, means movably supporting said first die plate on said frame member base portion, a lever member positioned between said first die plate and said drive shaft, said lever member having a first end portion and a second end portion, a support member extending upwardly from said frame member base portion, means pivotally connecting said lever member adjacent said first end portion to said support member, means connecting said lever member adjacent said second end portion to said arm member, and means connecting said first die plate connecting member to said lever member between said end portions so that said first die plate reciprocates on said base portion upon rotation of said drive shaft.
 11. A die cutter drive for a blank forming machine as set forth in claim 10 which includes, a fly wheel coaxially mounted on said drive shaft, and clutch means to connect said fly wheel to said drive shaft for rotation therewith. 